Our Creed"To perpetuate the memory of our shipmates who gave
their lives in the pursuit of their duties while serving their
country. That their dedication, deeds, and supreme sacrifice
be a constant source of motivation toward greater
accomplishments. Pledge loyalty and patriotism to the United
States of America and it's Constitution."

Base Bylaws

BY LAWS FOR THE ALBANY-SARATOGA BASE
OF THE UNITED STATES SUBMARINE VETERANS INC.

Article I - Name

The Name of this organization is the Albany-Saratoga Base,
United States Submarine Veterans Inc.

Article II - Mission

Section 1. Mission Statement
The Mission of this Base is to perpetuate the memory of our
shipmates who have given their lives in the pursuit of their
duty while serving their country in the United States Submarine
Force. That their dedication, deeds, and supreme sacrifice be a
constant source of motivation for greater accomplishments. We
pledge our loyalty and patriotism to the United States of
America and we support a strong U.S. Submarine Force.

Section 2. Base Activities
Our purpose shall be to support the above Mission Statement and
also to include social activities for our mutual benefit and
enjoyment. We encourage these social events to include our
families when possible.

Article III - Membership

Section 1. Regular Member
Membership is open to anyone earning the designation "Qualified
in Submarines" in the United States Navy who are on active duty
or who have been discharged from the U. S. Navy under honorable
conditions.

Section 2. Associate Member
Any person who has an interest in submarines may be an Associate
Member. A Regular Member in good standing must sponsor this
person; but may sponsor no more than one Associate Member. In
the event an Associate Member's sponsor is no longer available,
the Base will assume sponsorship. A sponsor is not required for
the spouse of a Regular Member or for any naturalized U.S.
citizen who is "Qualified in Submarines" for any nation other
than the United States and who served honorably for that nation.
The number of Sponsored Associate Members may not exceed 10% of
Regular Member roster.

Associate Members may not vote in National Elections nor hold
any National Office; they may hold Base positions other than the
three Commanders Officers. They may only vote on local base
matters when authorized by the Base Commander. Associate Members
are assessed the same dues as Regular members and
they shall also be eligible for life membership.

Section 3. Member in Good Standing
A member in good standing is one whose dues are paid for the
current year.

Section 4. Holland ClubA. The Holland Club is an organization within the
USSVI. Eligibility for membership is to be a "Qualified in
Submarines" for at least fifty years and who is either a Life
Member for at least one year or an annual member in good
standing for the past five consecutive years. The National By
Laws has complete eligibility.

B. Holland Club members are exempt from National
dues.

Article IV - Dues

Section 1 Dues Year
The dues year is from January 1st to December 31st of each year.
All dues are payable on or by the January meeting of each year.
A member is considered "in good standing" if both his local and
national dues are paid for the current year. Members whose dues
are not paid by April 1st of the current year will have their
membership revoked. Revoked members must pay the New member
National dues to be reinstated. New members who join in the last
quarter of a year are members for that year and for the
following full year.

Section 2 National Dues
The National By Laws establish national new member, annual
member and life member dues.

Section 3 Base Dues
Dues for this Base shall be $10.00 per year. Only Holland Club
members are exempt from all dues.

Article V - Base Officers and Committee
Chairmen

Section 1. Elected Base Officers
The elected officers of this base shall be the Commander, Senior
Vice Commander, Junior Vice Commander, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Each office shall be elected for a term of one year. The term of
Commander is limited to two consecutive terms; all other elected
offices have no term limits.

Section 2. Major Appointed Positions
The Base Commander shall appoint the following positions: Chief
of the Boat (COB), Base Chaplain, Membership, and Public
Relations. The Base Commander may also appoint other positions
to insure the smooth operation of the Base. The Executive Board
shall approve all appointments.

Section 3. The Executive Board
The Executive Board is to be made up of the five Base Officers,
the most recent past Commander and the Chief of the Boat. The
Base Commander may also appoint one or two additional members in
good standing.

Section 4 Breaking a Deadlock of the Executive Board
In the event that the Executive Board is deadlocked on an issue,
it shall be presented to the voting members at the next Base
meeting for a binding decision by a simple majority vote.

Section 5 Vacated Offices
In the event the Commander's office is vacated, the ranking Vice
Commander shall assume the duties of the Commander. Any other
vacated office will be filled by appointment by the Executive
Board to fill the balance of the term of that office. At the end
of the term the appointee is eligible to be elected to and serve
his own term of office.

Section 6 Termination of an Officer
The Executive Board may remove any officer not fulfilling the
duties of his office. That officer may appeal his termination to
the Regular Base Members. The appeal will be by secret ballot
and will be determined a majority vote. The two highest-ranking
Base Commanders will count the vote. Section 5 of this Article
will replace any vacancy.

Article VI - Duties of Base Officers

Section 1 Commander
The Base Commander presides over all Base Executive Board and
Base meetings. He shall appoint Committee Chairmen as detailed
in Article V, Section 2 and, with cause, call special membership
or committee meetings. The Base Commander and the Base
Officers shall conform to the Base By Laws and those of the
United States
Submarine Veterans Inc.

Section 2a Senior Vice Commander
The Senior Vice Commander shall, in the absence of the Base
Commander, preside at all Base meetings. After ninety
consecutive days of the Base Commander's absence, other than for
illness, or if the Base Commander resigns, he shall assume the
duties of the Base Commander for the remainder of the elected
term.

Section 2b Junior Vice Commander
The Junior Vice Commander shall assist the Senior Vice Commander
in all his duties. He shall serve as Senior Vice Commander in
his absence or if the office of the Senior Vice Commander is
vacated.

Section 2c Duties of The Vice Commanders
The Vice Commanders shall establish as a minimum the Social,
Ways and Means and Resolution Committees. The Vice Commanders
shall appoint chairmen and serve as Ex-officio chairman for
these committees. The Vice Commanders shall appoint the Editor
of a Newsletter and support the Editor in the mailing of the
Newsletter. This mail/email information will include at least
the time, date and place of the next meeting, upcoming business
and events, dues reminders and a welcome aboard introduction of
new members.

Section 3 Secretary
The Base Secretary shall give notice to every member of all base
meetings. Shall keep minutes of all Base Meetings, and
present those of the previous meeting at the current meeting.
Shall maintain the Base Sailing List of members in good standing
and of those less than 90 days in arrears. Shall publish
in the minutes the names of those members whose dues are
delinquent. Shall submit Control Reports as directed by
the National Membership Office. Shall conduct the election
process to insure that those voting are members in good
standing. Shall maintain a muster log for all Base
Meetings. Shall present to the General and Executive Board
meetings all correspondence and communications addressed to the
Base, it's officers and its members.

Section 5 Treasurer
The Base Treasurer shall maintain a checking account for the
Base and a savings account if needed. Shall receive and
deposit all dues and moneys of the Base, and shall dispense
these moneys as directed by the Base Commander. All bills in
excess of $50.00 shall be presented to the Base Commander for
approval. Shall deposit all such funds in the name of the
Albany-Saratoga Base, Submarine Veterans Inc. Shall inform
the Base Secretary of all dues received. Shall forward
national dues at least monthly to the National Office.
Shall prepare a monthly Treasurer's Report that shall be read at
the next Base meeting. Shall present his books for audit
at least annually to any base member the Base Commander shall
name. Shall prepare an annual Treasurer's Report on the
forms provided by the National Office. [Internet download]
Shall file this annual Base Treasurers form with the National
Treasurer by the date required.

Section 2. Robert's Rules of Order
Meetings shall be conducted in accordance with the parliamentary
procedures of Robert's Rules of Order. The Base Commander may
appoint a Parliamentarian to aid in the proper conduct of
meetings.

Section 3. Quorum
One elected Officer and four Regular Members in good standing
shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business at
a duly called meeting. Once a quorum is established, it shall
remain in effect as long as there is at least one Officer and
two Regular Members in good standing present.

Section 4. Voting
Each member present in good standing (all membership dues paid)
shall be eligible to vote at meetings. A simple majority (unless
otherwise stated) of voting members shall determine the outcome
of the vote.

Section 5. Special Meetings
Special meetings may be called by the Base Commander or, in his
absence, by the ranking Vice Commander.

Section 6. Executive Board Meetings
The Executive Board shall meet at least once a year at a time
and place the Base Commander designates.

Article VIII - Nominations and
Elections

Section 1 The Nominating Committee
The Base Commander shall appoint five members in good standing
to serve as the Nominating Committee. This Committee will
convene at such time as to meet the schedule of Section 2 of
this Article.

Section 2 Duties of the Nominating Committee
The Nominating Committee shall seek qualified members in good
standing as candidates for all elective offices. The committee
shall present the names of the nominees to the membership at the
November meeting. Mail/Email may be used to notify absent
members of the nominations. Additional nominations may be made
from the floor at the elections meeting.

Section 3 Election and Installation of Officers
Elections will take place at the December meeting. When an
office has more than one nominee, the election for that office
will be by secret ballot. Installation of Officers will take
place at the January meeting. The Installation Ceremony will be
in accordance with the National Ceremony Handbook.

Article IX - Amendments

Proposed amendments to these By Laws shall require a ten-day
advance written notice to each member. Adoption of
proposed amendments shall require a two-thirds vote by the
eligible members present. These By Laws shall be reviewed
annually and, if amended, shall be submitted to the National
Office.